Cigarette extinguisher

ABSTRACT

A cigarette extinguisher is constructed to receive a lighted cigarette, hold the cigarette in an extinguishing chamber in which combustion cannot be supported, and subsequently discharge the extinguished cigarette and accompanying ashes into a receptacle. A pocketed carrier rotates within a cylindrical casing bore, the casing having an upper cigarette receiving opening and a lower discharge opening. An operating and ratcheting mechanism moves the carrier stepwise in one direction of rotation only, so that a deposited cigarette may not inadvertently be returned to the receiving opening. A double ended operating arm drives the ratcheting mechanism in the said one direction irrespective of which end of the operating arm is depressed by the user. The extinguisher is combined with a receiver for the reception and collection of extinguished cigarettes. Other embodiments incorporating a button type drive and a pedestal type ash tray are also disclosed.

United States Patent [151 3,695,277 Moffa [451 Oct. 3, 1972 CIGARETTE EXTINGUISHER Primary Examiner-Joseph S. Reich [72] Inventor: Dominick Moffa, 1300 Schwab Attorney-Joseph Molasky Road, Hatfield, Pa. 19440 [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: March 16, 1970 App]. No.: 19,749

A cigarette extinguisher is constructed to receive a lighted cigarette, hold the cigarette in an extinguishing chamber in which combustion cannot be supported, and subsequently discharge the extinguished cigarette and accompanying ashes into a receptacle. A pocketed carrier rotates within a cylindrical casing bore, the casing having an upper cigarette receiving opening and a lower discharge opening. An operating and ratcheting mechanism moves the carrier stepwise in one direction of rotation only, so that a deposited cigarette may not inadvertently be returned to the receiving opening. A double ended operating arm drives the ratcheting mechanism in the said one direction irrespective of which end of the operating arm is depressed by the user. The extinguisher is combined with a receiver for the reception and collection of extinguished cigarettes. Other embodiments incorporating a button type drive and a pedestal type ash tray are also disclosed.

7 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures assazvv PNENFEBBBI 3 m2 SHEET 1 BF 2 3 rm F INVENTOR DOMINICK MOFFA 9 42 ATTORNEYS PATENTEDnma 2 Y 3,695,277

SHEET 2 OF 2 INVENTIOR DOMINICK MOFFA ATTORNEY CIGARETTE EXTINGUISHER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION One of the most common problems experienced in homes and ofiices occurs with ash receptacles. When a cigarette is not completely extinguished by the smoker, it will ignite cigarette butts or small items of paper and trash commonly placed in ash trays. This presents, at the most, a fire hazard and at the least a very unpleasant pollution of the air in the room in which the ash receptacle is kept. Even when considerable care is exercised, live coals will very often fall into the bottom of the ash receptacle. In this event, they cannot be reached and extinguished by the smoker thereby resulting in the ignition of cigarette butts and trash as mentioned above.

This problem is particularly acute in office reception or waiting rooms. Persons who are waiting will very often smoke heavily, and relatively large receivers must be provided to handle the volume of use which occurs.

It is of particular value, therefore, to have a cigarette extinguisher which may be combined with an ash or cigarette receiver. When the larger and heavier variety is used for concentrations of smokers, it is desired that a deposited cigarette is extinguished before it is dropped into the receptacle along with other cigarette butts and trash. When this combination exists, it is difficult or impossible for the smoker to avoid the extinguishing process, and the extinguishing occurs without substantial conscious effort by the smoker.

It is also important to have an operating means for the extinguishing mechanism which operates easily with only the most simple activity being required of the smoker. With such an operating means, the cigarette will be extinguished and carried to the receiver without the possibility of a partially extinguished cigarette butt being returned to the entrance portion of the extinguisher mechanism.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the primary object of the invention, therefore, to provide a cigarette extinguisher used in conjunction with a receiver. The combination includes a pocketed carrier which receives the cigarette to be extinguished and carries the cigarette around in a substantially airtight casing to extinguish combustion. The cigarette is then discharged into a receptacle. The carrier is rotatable stepwise in one direction of rotation only so that a partially extinguished cigarette may not be rotated back to the receiving opening of the extinguisher. This not only insures that the cigarette may not inadvertently be returned, but it also insures its step-by-step passage through a substantially airtight chamber over a sufficient period of time so that it is extinguished before being discharged into the receiver below.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a unique and improved means for accomplishing the step-by-step unidirectional rotation of the carrier while not permitting reverse rotation as mentioned above.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a unique and improved means for step-by-step unidirectional rotation requiring very light operating pressure and wherein a convenient downward hand pressure on either end of an operating rod will cause actuation of the unidirectional step-by-step ratcheting means.

Still another object is to provide a cigarette extinguisher which is capable of being adapted to and combined with widely different types and varieties of ash receivers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cigarette extinguisher of the present invention combined with and applied to a tray type ash receiver;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3, showing the operating mechanism in relaxed or non-operated position;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken on the line 5--5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to that of FIG. 4 but showing the operating mechanism actuated by downward pressure on one end of the operating rod;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a cigarette extinguisher of the present invention as applied to and combined with a floor stand type of ash receiver;

FIG. 9 is a sectional partial view illustrating the use of a pivot point bushing as a means of maintaining the carrier supporting shafts in the end cap structures; and

FIG. 10 is a sectional partial view of a push button assembly for activating the extinguisher.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS More specifically, the tray, generally designated 10, comprises a desk or table type ash receiver which is combined with the cigarette extinguisher of the present invention. The tray 10 is provided with end walls 11 and 12, side walls 13 and 14, and a bottom wall 15. The tray 10 is further provided with angled partitions l6 and 17 which extend between the end walls 11 and 12 and are fastened thereto. The upper edges of the partitions 16 and 17 and side walls 13 and 14 support grills 18 and 19 which prevent the deposit of paper and trash in the ash receptacle.

The end walls 11 and 12 include arcuate notches 20 and 21 which are adapted to receive and hold the cigarette extinguisher of the present invention.

The extinguisher includes an outer casing 22 which has a cylindrical bore 23. The casing 22 is shown in the form of a cylinder, but may be of any configuration providing it has the cylindrical bore 23 here noted. The casing 22 is provided with end caps 24 and 25 which close the ends of the casing 22. In the present embodiment, the caps 24 and 25 provide bearing blocks for a pocketed carrier 26 which fits closely but rotatably within the cylindrical bore 23. The carrier 26 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially oriented, elongated slots 27. These slots 27 preferably terminate short of the ends of the carrier 26 so as to define, with the casing 22, closed pockets for a purpose to be more completely described hereinbelow.

In the present embodiment, the carrier 26 includes projecting shafts 28 and 29 which are joumalled in openings located in the end caps 24 and 25. In another embodiment shown in FIG. 9, other means may be used for supporting the carrier 26. The end cap 25a has an indentation in which bushing 29a is disposed. The end of the shaft 29b is pivotally mounted contiguous to the bushing 29a.

The configuration of the end cap 25a and bushing 29a is similar to the other end of the shaft 29b. These bushings may, of course, have structural configurations other than the one shown to effect the desired pivoting results. These bushings are generally made of brass, nylon or plastic but other durable and functionally equivalent material may be used.

The casing 22 is provided with an upper elongated receiving slot '30, which is preferably of the same length and width as the pockets 27 in the carrier 26. A funnellike structure 31 is securely fastened to the casing 22. This funnel-like structure 31 having arcuate side walls 32 and 33 and end walls 34 and 35 facilitates feeding of a cigarette butt into the receiving slot 30.

The casing 22 also includes a lower discharge opening 36 which is of the same length and width as the pockets 27 in this specific embodiment. The distances between pockets 27 are so selected that when one pocket 27 is in registry with the upper receiving opening 30, a lower pocket 27 will be aligned with the lower discharge opening 36. Therefore, the pockets 27 are evenly spaced around the carrier 26. This is clearly shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. The lower discharge opening 36 is not directly opposite the upper receiving opening 30 but is spaced further around the casing 22 in the direction chosen for rotation of the pocketed carrier 26 in this specific embodiment. A smoldering cigarette butt will thereby have the longest possible path of travel within the substantially airtight casing 22 prior to discharge into the receiver below.

A first pawl and ratchet assembly is provided as part of the mechanism which permits step-by-step rotation of the pocketed carrier 26 in only one direction. The ratchet portion of this first pawl and ratchet means, as most clearly shown in FIG. 6, comprises a plurality of arcuate camming notches 37 terminating in end abutments 38. In the present embodiment, the arcuate camming notches 37 are formed directly in the carrier, but this ratchet portion could be made as an attached separate unit if desired.

The pawl portion of the first pawl and ratchet assembly comprises a pivoted lever 39 which is positioned in a small compartment defined by the end wall 34 of the funnel-like structure and a wall portion 40 which is spaced slightly from the end wall 34. These two walls 34 and 40 provide a support for the pivot pin 41 on which the pawl lever 39 is pivotally mounted. A spring 42 is anchored in the housing by the pin 43 and gives a resilient bias to the pawl lever 39. One free end of the spring 42 bears against the slotted head of a bolt 44 fastened to the pawl lever 39. The opposite end of the spring 42 bears against the wall of the funnel 31. A cover 45 provides a closure for this pawl and ratchet assembly. The operating means for driving the carrier in its step-by-step, unidirectional rotative movement includes a second pawl and ratchet assembly. The ratchet portion of the second pawl and ratchet assembly comprises a plurality of teeth formed in the end wall of the pocketed carrier 26. These teeth are defined by evenly spaced, identical, arcuate sloping sections 46 terminating in abutment teeth or steps 47. The pawl portion of the second assembly comprises a disc 48 including a plurality of sections (not numbered) having spaced arcuate sloping portions and steps or teeth which correspond to and cooperate with portions of the sloping sections 46 and teeth 47 of the ratchet. The sloping sections and teeth on the disc 48 are not necessarily as wide as the sections 46 and steps or teeth 47 on the end wall of the carrier 26. The disc 48 is provided with a hub 49, which hub carries gear teeth 50, defining a pinion gear. The disc 48 and hub 49 are rotatable and slidable on the projecting shaft 28, as most clearly shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings. In order to provide a resilient bias to the pawl disc 48, a coil spring 51 is positioned on the projecting shaft 28 between a fixed washer 52 and a sliding washer 53. The fixed washer 52 is secured to the shaft 28 by a tight press fit or any other suitable means so that the outer end of the spring 51 will be anchored. The sliding washer 53 is forced by the spring 51 against the end of the hub 49. The toothed disc 48 is thereby forced against the ratchet teeth 47 on the end of the pocketed carrier 26.

A rack frame, generally designated 54, is provided with side rails 55 and 56 and end bars 57 and 58. An elongated toothed gear rack 59 is secured to the side rail 55, and the teeth on the rack are engaged with the teeth 50 on the hub 49.

Guide rails 60 and 61 connected by an end plate 62 guide the rack frame 54 for reciprocal movement. These guide rails 60 and 61 are securely fastened to the casing 22 by fastening plates 63 and 64.

In order to provide an upward or return bias of the rack frame 54, a pin 65 is secured to the end bar 58 and projects downwardly therefrom through an opening in the end plate 62. A coil spring 66 is positioned between the end bar 58 and the end plate 62 to provide the necessary biasing action.

A cover 67 provided with elongated vertical slots 68 and 68a is securely fastened to the casing 22 by fastenings 69 which extend through the end wall 35 of the funnel portion 31. An operating rod 70 extends through and projects beyond the slots 68 and 68a. The rod 70 has handles 71 and 72 on the ends thereof.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the extinguisher is shown as combined with an ash receiver of tray-like construction. However, in the embodiment of FIG. 8, it is shown that the extinguisher of the invention may be applied to other types of receivers, such as a pedestal type receiver. A base 73 carries a vertical post 74 which, in turn, supports a receiving bowl 75. The bowl 75 corresponds to the tray 10 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3. The casing 22 is mounted in opposed slots in the bowl 75, substantially in the same manner as in the tray 10 of FIG. 1. However, in this embodiment a removable, dished cover 76 having an elongated slot 77 is used instead of the funnel portion 31 leading into the elongated receiving slot 30 of the casing 22.

OPERATION cover 76 of the embodiment of FIG. 8. The lighted butt will move into alignment with the elongated receiving slot 30 or 77 and will drop into that pocket 27 of the carrier 26 which is in registry with the receiving slot 30 or 77. The assembly before operation is in the position of FIG. 4 of the drawings. The smoker then with light finger pressure depresses either of the handles 71 or 72. In FIG. 5 of the drawings, the handle 72 has been depressed. Downward movement of the handle 72 rocks the one end of rod 70 downwardly in the slot 68. The rod 70 engages one end of the end bar 57. The opposite end of the rod 70 is forced by the upward spring bias on the rack frame 54 into fulcrum engagement with the upper end of the slot 68a. Pressure of the rod 70 on the corner of the end bar 57 forces the rack frame 54 to slide downwardly in the guide rails 60 and 61.

In lieu of the two handles 71 and 72 the carrier assembly 26 may also be operated by a single handle in which the rod 70 is attached to the end bar 57 by a pivot. Such a construction is not shown but is deemed to be within the ordinary skill of the art.

Still another means by which the carrier 26 may be activated consists in the use of a push button assembly such as is illustrated by FIG. 10. A button 70a extends through an opening 67a and has one end thereof seated in the hole 57a. Depression of the button 70a projecting above the cover 67 will activate the rack frame 54.

As the frame 54 moves downwardly, the coil spring 66 is compressed and the pin 65 slides through the opening in the end plate 62. The rack frame 54, in moving downwardly, carries with it the toothed gear rack 59 thereby effecting counterclockwise rotation of the gear teeth 50, the hub 49 and toothed disc 48. Because the teeth of the toothed disc 48 engage the teeth 47, the pocketed carrier 26 will rotate counterclockwise in its cylindrical bore 23 a distance sufficient to cause the pocket 27 carrying the smoldering cigarette butt to move into the casing 22. An adjacent, succeeding pocket 27 will then move into registry with the receiving slot 30 while another adjacent, succeeding pocket 27 is moving into registry with the discharge opening 36. The amount of travel of the rack frame 54 and size of the toothed hub 49 have been so selected that the full travel of the rack frame 54 in one operation of the operating mechanism will cause succeeding adjacent pockets 27 to rotate into registry with the respective receiving and discharge openings of the casing 22.

As the pocketed carrier 26 has been thus rotated, the pawl lever 39 has been cammed upwardly by a camming notch 37 against the bias of the spring 42. As the next pocket 27, however, moves into registry with the receiving opening 30 or 77, the pawl lever 29 will drop into engagement with the abutment 38 to lock the pocketed carrier 26 against reverse rotation in a clockwise direction.

At this point, the operator has removed pressure on the handle 72, and the spring 66 will force the rack frame 54 upwardly within its guide rails 60 and 61, into the position and condition shown in FIG. 4. As the gear rack 59 moves upwardly, the pinion hub 49 is given a reverse or clockwise rotation. Since the pinion hub 49 and disc 48 are freely slidable and rotatable on the shaft 28, the sloping sections 46 on the pocketed carrier 26 will cam the disc 48 and hub 49 axially outwardly against the bias of the spring 51 during the clockwise rotation of the disc 48 and hub 49. This clockwise rotation will continue until the rack frame 54 reaches its upper limit and a tooth on the disc 48 drops behind an abutment tooth 47 on the pocketed carrier 26. The disc 48 then slides axially inwardly and is in a driving position for the next operation by the rod 70.

After his operation, the cigarette is trapped in a pocket 27 within the casing 22. Since the pocketed carrier 26 fits rather tightly within the cylindrical bore 23, there is insuflicient air to support combustion and in a short period of time any combustion is extinguished. The next operation of the operating handles 71 or 72 moves the butt an additional increment within the bore 23. A further and subsequent actuation of the handle will align the pocket 27 carrying the butt with the lower discharge opening 36, and the butt, by then extinguished, drops into the receiver 14, or 75.

In the disclosed extinguishing assembly, the pocketed carrier 26 may rotate step by step in a counterclockwise direction only. It is impossible for the smoker to inadvertently return the cigarette butt to the receiving opening 30 or 77.

If handle 71 is depressed, the rod 70 will engage the right hand corner of the end bar 57. The opposite end of the rod 70 will fulcrum on the upper end of the slot 68. Thus the rack frame 54 moves downwardly to rotate the hub 49, toothed disc 48 and pocketed carrier 26 in a counterclockwise direction. Upon release, only the toothed disc 48 and hub 49 rotate in a clockwise direction. Thus the operation is the same when either handle 71 or 72 is depressed, and the pocketed carrier 26 is capable only of step by step unidirectional movement.

While the cigarette extinguisher has been shown and described in detail, it is obvious that this invention is not to be considered as being limited to the exact form disclosed, and that changes in detail and construction may be'made therein within the scope of the invention, without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

l. A cigarette extinguisher comprising a. a casing having a cylindrical bore, and a cigarette receiving opening and a discharge opening, extending through the side wall thereof,

b. a carrier rotatably supported in said casing bore and having pocket means therein adapted to cooperate with said casing wall to extinguish a cigarette and being succesively movable into re gistry with said openings, and

c. means for effecting step-by-step unidirectional rotation of said carrier whereby a cigarette placed in said pocket means through said receiving opening may be moved to extinguish the cigarette in said pocket and discharge the same through said discharge opening; wherein said rotation effecting means includes:

a first pawl and ratchet means to permit rotation of said carrier in only one direction,

a second pawl and ratchet means for driving said carrier in said one direction,

a reciprocating plunger,

means for converting reciprocation of said plunger into rotary motion of said second pawl and ratchet means, and

a hand operated rod extending transversely of said plunger for depressing said plunger by pressure on either end of said rod.

2. A cigarette extinguisher as set forth in claim 1 further including a receptacle and means for supporting said casing above said receptacle.

3. A cigarette extinguisher as set forth in claim 1 wherein said rotation effecting means includes a gear for driving said second pawl and ratchet means, and

a gear rack on said plunger in driving engagement with said gear.

4. A cigarette extinguisher as set forth in claim 1 wherein said rotation effecting means includes a cover having diametrically opposed slot means extending over the upper end of said plunger secured to said casing,

a hand operated rod extending through said slotted portions and loosely engaging the top of said plunger whereby when said rod is depressed at either end thereof, one portion will engage and depress said plunger and the other portion will engage and fulcrum on the end of the opposite slot means.

5. A cigarette extinguisher as set forth in claim 1 wherein said rotation effecting means includes a first pawl and ratchet means located at one end of the carrier to permit rotation of said carrier in only one direction,

a second axially engaging pawl and ratchet means located at the other other end of said carrier for driving said carrier in said one direction, said second pawl being spring biased axially toward said second ratchet,

a spring biased reciprocating plunger, and

means for converting reciprocation of said plunger into rotary motion of said second pawl and ratchet means.

6. A cigarette extinguisher as set forth in claim 1 wherein said rotation effecting means includes a first pawl and ratchet means located at one end of said carrier to permit rotation of said carrier in only one direction,

a second axially engaging pawl and ratchet means located at the other end of said carrier for driving said carrier in said one direction, said second pawl being spring biased axially toward said second ratchet,

a spring biased reciprocating plunger,

means for converting reciprocation of said plunger into rotary motion of said second pawl and ratchet means, a cover having diametrically opposed slot means extending over the upper end of said plunger secured to said casing, and a hand operated rod extending through said slot means and loosely engaging the top of said plunger whereby when said rod is depressed at either end thereof, one portion will engage and depress said plunger and the other portion will engage and fulcrum at the end of the opposite slot means. 7. A cigarette extinguisher as set forth in claim 1 wherein said rotation effecting means includes means to activate said second pawl and ratchet means. 

1. A cigarette extinguisher comprising a. a casing having a cylindrical bore, and a cigarette receiving opening and a discharge opening, extending through the side wall thereof, b. a carrier rotatably supported in said casing bore and having pocket means therein adapted to cooperate with said casing wall to extinguish a cigarette and being succesively movable into registry with said openings, and c. means for effecting step-by-step unidirectional rotation of said carrier whereby a cigarette placed in said pocket means through said receiving opening may be moved to extinguish the cigarette in said pocket and discharge the same through said discharge opening; wherein said rotation effecting means includes: a first pawl and ratchet means to permit rotation of said carrier in only one direction, a second pawl and ratchet means for driving said carrier in said one direction, a reciprocating plunger, means for converting reciprocation of said plunger into rotary motion of said second pawl and ratchet means, and a hand operated rod extending transversely of said plunger for depressing said plunger by pressure on either end of said rod.
 2. A cigarette extinguisher as set forth in claim 1 further including a receptacle and means for supporting said casing above said receptacle.
 3. A cigarette extinguisher as set forth in claim 1 wherein said rotation effecting means includes a gear for driving said second pawl and ratchet means, and a gear rack on said plunger in driving engagement with said gear.
 4. A cigarette extinguisher as set forth in claim 1 wherein said rotation effecting means includes a cover having diametrically opposed slot means extending over the upper end of said plunger secured to said casing, a hand operated rod extending through said slotted portions and loosely engaging the top of said plunger whereby when said rod is depressed at either end thereof, one portion will engage and depress said plunger and the other portion will engage and fulcrum on the end of the opposite slot means.
 5. A cigarette extinguisher as set forth in claim 1 wherein said rotation effecting means includes a first pawl and ratchet means located at one end of the carrier to permit rotation of said carrier in only one direction, a second axially engaging pawl and ratchet means located at the other other end of said carrier for driving said carrier in said one direction, said second pawl being spring biased axially toward said second ratchet, a spring biased reciprocating plunger, and means for converting reciprocation of said plunger into rotary motion of said second pawl and ratchet means.
 6. A cigarette extinguisher as set forth in claim 1 wherein said rotation effecting means includes a first pawl and ratchet means located at one end of said carrier to permit rotation of said carrier in only one direction, a second axially engaging pawl and ratchet means located at the other end of said carrier for driving said carrier in said one direction, said second pawl being spring biased axially toward said second ratchet, a spring biased reciprocating plunger, means for converting reciprocation of said plunger into rotary motion of said second pawl and ratchet means, a cover having diametrically opposed slot means extending over the upper end of said plunger secured to said casing, and a hand operated rod extending through said slot means and loosely engaging the top of said plunger whereby whEn said rod is depressed at either end thereof, one portion will engage and depress said plunger and the other portion will engage and fulcrum at the end of the opposite slot means.
 7. A cigarette extinguisher as set forth in claim 1 wherein said rotation effecting means includes means to activate said second pawl and ratchet means. 